One of our MDs won't see any patients until the doc's work area has been completely cavi-wiped, including the chair and computer peripherals. He also refuses to sit at any other computer except that particular one.

Nov 12, '12

I had a colleague when I was right out of school who was a pretty extreme germophobe. She carried Purell with her everywhere. She would disinfect her cutlery if she ate at a restaurant. She even applied Purell to her new boyfriends lips before kissing him because he had a cold sore, and gave him this big shpiel on how he had herpes.

I am a total germaphobe! I use bleach wipes to wipe the computer prior to use. I wash my hands then use the sanitizer for my hands and glove up to every patients I see, even when they ask me to hand them water. I use alcohol wipes to clean my stethoscope with each patient use. Before leaving work, I wash my hands two times then put on gloves, use bleach wipes to wipe my shoes and clipboard. I practically use a whole box of alcohol wipes at the end of my shift. Then when I get to my car, I slip out of my shoes ( wearing gloves) put it in the trunk and put on another pair, then use sanitizer again. When I get home, I take off my scrubs in the laundry basket for scrubs only in the laundry room. Then take a really hot shower. I had nurses looking at me like I am crazy, but I don't care! Don't want to bring anything home or catch anything myself.

I used to take off my scrubs in the parking garage before getting in the car to put it in the trunk (I always have undershirts and shorts underneath my scrubs) but stopped because I see people literally stop and watch me every time, I guess they thought I was stripping naked for all to see.

I am a total germaphobe! I use bleach wipes to wipe the computer prior to use. I wash my hands then use the sanitizer for my hands and glove up to every patients I see, even when they ask me to hand them water. I use alcohol wipes to clean my stethoscope with each patient use. Before leaving work, I wash my hands two times then put on gloves, use bleach wipes to wipe my shoes and clipboard. I practically use a whole box of alcohol wipes at the end of my shift. Then when I get to my car, I slip out of my shoes ( wearing gloves) put it in the trunk and put on another pair, then use sanitizer again. When I get home, I take off my scrubs in the laundry basket for scrubs only in the laundry room. Then take a really hot shower. I had nurses looking at me like I am crazy, but I don't care! Don't want to bring anything home or catch anything myself.

I used to take off my scrubs in the parking garage before getting in the car to put it in the trunk (I always have undershirts and shorts underneath my scrubs) but stopped because I see people literally stop and watch me every time, I guess they thought I was stripping naked for all to see.

Yeah, you are getting germs in your car, which get on your new, clean clothes. That means they get on your couch, your chairs, end up on your clothes in your other laundry basket, etc. No offense meant, but germs are a part of life.

Nov 13, '12

I find it amusing when, despite all their OCD rituals, it's the germaphobe who gets sick first.

I am a total germaphobe! I use bleach wipes to wipe the computer prior to use. I wash my hands then use the sanitizer for my hands and glove up to every patients I see, even when they ask me to hand them water. I use alcohol wipes to clean my stethoscope with each patient use. Before leaving work, I wash my hands two times then put on gloves, use bleach wipes to wipe my shoes and clipboard. I practically use a whole box of alcohol wipes at the end of my shift. Then when I get to my car, I slip out of my shoes ( wearing gloves) put it in the trunk and put on another pair, then use sanitizer again. When I get home, I take off my scrubs in the laundry basket for scrubs only in the laundry room. Then take a really hot shower. I had nurses looking at me like I am crazy, but I don't care! Don't want to bring anything home or catch anything myself.I used to take off my scrubs in theparking garage before getting in the car to put it in the trunk (I always have undershirts and shorts underneath my scrubs) but stopped because I see people literally stop and watch me every time, I guess they thought I was stripping nakedfor all to see.

If I saw a nurse wearing gloves in the parking lot I'd think she's a tad crazy-pants.

Nov 13, '12

I consider myself a germaphobe. I'm constantly squirting my hands at work. I even keep squirty stuff in the van for after we leave a public place, I have the kids squirt their hands too of course. We flush public toilets with our feet and open the public bathrooms with paper towels. Nothing too outlandish but it works and makes me feel better. I'm rarely sick....maybe a cold or 2 a year.

Nov 13, '12

I am a total germaphobe! I use bleach wipes to wipe the computer prior to use. I wash my hands then use the sanitizer for my hands and glove up to every patients I see, even when they ask me to hand them water. I use alcohol wipes to clean my stethoscope with each patient use. Before leaving work, I wash my hands two times then put on gloves, use bleach wipes to wipe my shoes and clipboard. I practically use a whole box of alcohol wipes at the end of my shift. Then when I get to my car, I slip out of my shoes ( wearing gloves) put it in the trunk and put on another pair, then use sanitizer again. When I get home, I take off my scrubs in the laundry basket for scrubs only in the laundry room. Then take a really hot shower. I had nurses looking at me like I am crazy, but I don't care! Don't want to bring anything home or catch anything myself.

um.....wow.

How do you handle places like the grocery store or a doctors office???

Nov 13, '12

I worked with a nurse that during the influenza/croup/RSV/Nasty bug season will go home (her shift ends at 4am) and strip naked in her garage, put her clothes in a plastic sack while still in the garage, then walk directly to her basement, dump the clothes in the washer and wash them immediately (doesn't even add any other clothes to the load) then she takes a shower. At 4am, unless I have been vomiting or defecated on, I'm gonna strip my clothes off at the side of bed and crawl in.